When you buy a new plant for your home or the greenhouse, inspect it carefully before putting it in place, because mealybugs often come from infested plants brought in from elsewhere. Most plants will put up with small populations of mealybug, but these can grow quickly if you do not take some action to control them. PreventionĬheck susceptible plants frequently so you can act before a mealybug infestation takes hold. Do not apply when flowering weeds are present. Do not use where bees are actively foraging. To protect bees and pollinating insects do not apply to plants when in flower. But because the pest is so hard to eradicate, sometimes it is better to discard the infested plant and start again.īefore you treat mealybugs on fruit and vegetables, always check that the insecticide is approved for use on edible crops. Where the potting compost in containers is infested with root mealybugs, you can try drenching the compost with a systemic insecticide. They need to be sprayed thoroughly with a systemic insecticide. Because of their waxy coating, mealybugs are difficult to eradicate using insecticides.Because the ladybirds need relatively high temperatures to survive, use this mealybug infestation treatment from May to September. You can order these online from several biological control suppliers. Both the adult ladybird and its larvae feed on mealybugs. Introduce a ladybird (Cryptolaemus montrouzieri) into the greenhouse for a form of biological mealybug control.Wipe off small mealybug populations using a damp sponge or kitchen towel and check regularly for re-infestations.Here we’ve listed a few different controls, ranging from cultural and biological to chemical: How can you get rid of mealybugs? There are many methods of mealybug control. Large mealybug infestations can weaken plants, limit growth and cause premature leaf fall. This will gradually deprive the leaf of light and might eventually kill the plant. A black sooty mould can grow on this sticky substance which is unsightly. Often the first sign of mealybugs on plants is the honeydew excreted by the insect, which makes the surface of leaves on to which it drops very sticky. Look for colonies in the inaccessible parts of the plant, for example underneath leaves and on plant stems, particularly the point where the leaf is attached to the stem. Here is a list of more indoor grown plants which are particularly prone to mealybug infestations: Mealybugs are commonly found on cacti, succulents and orchids (especially moth orchids (Phalaenopsis)). A smaller species, the root mealybug, feeds on some pot plant roots and is about 2mm long. They secrete a fluffy white, waxy substance that protects their bodies and hides their eggs. Mealybug pests are flat, oval insects about 4mm long, with soft, greyish-white or pink bodies. A few mealybug species can affect plants grown outdoors including ceanothus, laburnum, New Zealand flax (Phormium) and redcurrant. Mealybugs can be a serious pest problem for house plants or of plants growing in a conservatory or greenhouse, particularly cacti and succulent plants.
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